Construction set including members with plural connecting means



Dec. 21, 1965 J. H. RIGHT ETAL 3,224,135

CONSTRUCTIO ET INCLUDING MEMBERS WITH PLURAL CONNECTING MEANS Filed June 13, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 D 2 1965 J. H. WRIGHT ETAL 3,224,135

CONSTRUCTION SET INCLUDING MEMBERS WITH PLURAL CONNECTING MEANS Flled June 15 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1955 J. H. WRIGHT ETAL 3,224,135

CONSTRUCTION SET INCLUDING MEMBERS WITH PLURAL CONNECTING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 15, 19655 United States Patent 3,224,135 CONSTRUCTION SET INCLUDING MEMBERS WITH PLURAL CONNECTING MEANS John H. Wright and Charles Stowe Myers, Evanston, Ill.,

assignors to A. G. Spalding & Bros. Inc., Chicopee,

Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 13, 1963, Ser. No. 287,705 10 Claims. (Ci. 46-47) This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 262,457, filed March 4, 1963.

This invention relates to a toy construction block set and has particular, but not exclusive utility as applied to a construction set having elements adapted to be assembled into objects possessing forms suggested by mechanical devices such as vehicles and boats.

The primary aim of the present invention is to provide a construction block set having a variety of elements that interfit with one another and which may be easily assembled in the form of a mechanical toy of the desired type and which may be subsequently disassociated and used over and over again.

A related object is to provide such a construction set having great versatility whereby a wide variety of mechanical toys or other objects may be assembled with the ele ments of the set. It is also an object to provide elements for such a set which are made of durable, long lasting material which is also partially resilient and deformable under pressure and therefore capable of withstanding the abuse that such construction sets can be expected to experience in normal use.

A more particular object is to provide a construction set having a variety of elements that are adapted to snap into coupling engagement with one another, and yet, which may be easily disassembled.

A further object is to provide a construction set of the above type having play value for both children and adults and also having educational value by stimulating the imagination to create and assemble mechanical toys or other objects of many types.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical toy in the form of a locomotive engine and tender constructed with elements of a construction set embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the mechanical toy shown in FIG. 1 and shows in more detail the connectors and hitches for coupling together the various elements of the set;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a large platform construction block;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the block shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a half-platform construction block. similar to the block shown in FIG. 3;

PEG. 6 is an end elevation of the block shown in FIG. 5, and also illustrates the end elevation of the block shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a small platform construction block;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are, respectively, side and end elevations of the block shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a taper block;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are, respectively, side and end elevations of the block shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a taper platform;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are, respectively, side and end elevations of the block shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a wheel;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the wheel shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side elevation of an axle;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of a small connector pin;

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of a hitch;

FIG. 21 is an end elevation of a connector piece, enlarged to twice the size relative the other figures;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the connector shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a side elevation of a body block;

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the body block shown in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a cab member;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation of the cab member shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side elevation of a chimney;

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the chimney shown in FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a side elevation of a head piece;

FIG. 30 is a plan view of the head piece shown in FIG. 29; and

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary section of two of the platform blocks in stacked relationship illustrating the novel snapping lugs.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, we intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a mechanical toy, generally indicated at 10, in the form of a locomotive engine 11 and tender 12 assembled from the elements of a construction set made according to the present invention. It will be understood that this exemplary toy 10 has been contrived merely to illustrate one type of top which may be made from the present set. A great variety of other mechanical toys and objects, of course, may also be assembled with these elements. Referring to FIG. 2, which shows the underside of the exemplary toy It it will be apparent that the lower frame portion of the engine 11 and tender 12 are formed by coupling together individual construction blocks of the type shown in FIGS. 3-15. Also in keeping with the invention it will be seen that provision has been made for securing wheel and axle assemblies to certain of the construction elements so that wheel toys such as the illustrated engine and tender, or other vehicles may be easily assembled.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3-31, there is shown a variety of elements which make up the present construction set. It has been found that molded polyethylene provides a suitable material for all of the basic interfitting blocks shown in FIGS. 3-15 and the specialized elements illustrated in FIGS. 2331, although it appears that other materials would also be suitable. The molded polyethylene material has been found to be deformable, yet resilient or springy enough, so that the elements will hold their shape and are capable of withstanding the abuse that such construction sets can be expected to experience through normal use. Moreover, the springy nature of the polyethylene enables the construction elements to be quickly and securely interfitted and yet allows the elements to be easily disassociated when the constructed toy is disassembled. This resiliency also contributes to the virtual snap action which is afforded certain of the interfitting parts as will be hereinafter more fully described. For the wheels, axles, and connecting pins, illustrated in FIGS. 16-19, wood has been found to be more satisfactory than the polyethylene material, although it should be understood that a plastic material might also be used for these elements.

The basic building elements for the construction set include a large platform block 20 and a half-platform or universal block 21 illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. It will be understood that the half-platform 21, as the name implies, is simply a block half as long as the large platform 20. The width of both blocks is the same and thus the end elevation of both blocks has been illustrated in FIG. 6. Moreover, the side elevation of the half-platform block 21, which is square, would also appear as in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the large platform block 20 and half-platform block 21 are each formed with a hollow rectangular base portion 22 and a top portion which carries a plurality of individually raised lands 24. Centrally located in each of the raised lands 24 is an aperture 25 defined by an inturned lip 25a integrally formed with the surface of the raised land. Preferably, the apertures 25 are substantially elliptical in shape with a long axis indicated at l and a short axis indicated at s. The shorter axis s is defined by a pair of flats 25b formed generally parallel to the longer axis l.

The raised lands 24 on the large platform 20 are located on the top portion so as to define a centrally disposed, longitudinal groove or slot 26 and a plurality of transverse grooves or slots 27 bisecting the platform, respectively, at the midpoint and the upper and lower halves. The half-platform 21, of course, has only a single transverse groove 27 which is normal to and bisects the longitudinal groove 26. The width of each groove is chosen to accommodate the thickness of two walls of the blocks base portion 22. In addition, the lands 24 are located slightly inwardly from the rectangular base 22 so as to define a narrow peripheral shoulder 28. The shoulder 28 thus serves as a stop against which the lower edge of the rectangular box portion 22 of a similar large platform 20 or half-platform 21 may rest.

In order that the blocks 21 and 20 may be assembled in securely interfitting stacked relationship, the inside dimensions of the box portion 22 of the blocks are slightly smaller than the corresponding external dimension across the raised lands 24. Accordingly, when one platform is stacked upon another platform a slight stretch or force fit is provided between the inside walls of the rectangular box portion 22 and the external walls of the mating raised lands of the associated platform. Thus, the inside transverse dimension of the blocks 20, 21, indicated at a in FIG. 6 slightly smaller than the external dimension a across two of the lands 24. Similarly, the longitudinal inside dimension of the block 20, indicated at b in FIG. 4, is somewhat smaller than the external longitudinal dimension b across four of the raised lands 24.

It will also be seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and that the longitudinal dimension across any two adjacent lands 24 of the blocks 20, 21 is also a. This permits, for example, the universal block 21 to be easily and securely mounted at any of three locations on the large platform block 20. Thus, the block 21 can be mounted on the upper :half, the middle portion, or the lower half of the block 20. Similarly, one large platform block 20 can be mounted transversely across another large platform block in any of the foregoing positions. In the latter instance, of course, the upper larger platform 20 may be located so as to extend laterally from either side of the under block 20 or alternatively it can be located at any intermediate position.

The blocks 20, 21 can also be stacked in staggered relation with one block over the joint between the two blocks below it. For example, two of the half-platform blocks 21 can be placed end to end and a third halfplatform block may be mounted over four of the raised lands 24, two of which are on each of the lower blocks 21. The same holds true for the large platform blocks 20. One large block 20, of course, can cover two half-platform blocks 21 placed end to end, and conversely, two half-platform blocks can be mounted on a single large platform block. Various other arrangements are also possible inc the blocks 20, .21. may be assembled with one or more of them extending either axially or laterally from above or below an associated block. Spaces between adjacent blocks may also be provided and covered with a large platform block in order to build bridges, tunnels or the like.

To enhance the interlocking nature of the blocks 20, 21, each block is preferably formed with connecting means so as to provide a snap action coupling with the complementary portion of a cooperating block. Thus, at spaced locations, a small protuberance or lug 22a is integrally formed on the inner surface of the hollow rectangular base 22. In like fashion, a similar protuberance or lug 24a is integrally formed on each of the outwardly facing sides of the raised lands 24. As shown in FIGS. 36, the lugs 22a and 24a are each located in alignment with the apertures 25 which are centrally located in the raised lands 24. It will be appreciated, however, that any other cooperating spacing of the lugs could be utilized.

Turning now to FIG. 31, for a moment, there is shown a partial section of two cooperating construction blocks, as for example 20 and 21, which are illustrated in stacked interfitting relationship. It will also be seen that the lugs 22a are preferably located substantially at the lower edge of the base 22 and the lugs 24a are located substantially at the upper edge of the raised lands 24. In addition, the lugs 22a and 24:! are respectively dimensioned relative to the base 22 and raised land 24 so as to insure that the lugs 22a, 24a interlock when the base 22 of one block 20 rests on the peripheral shoulder 28 of the other block 21.

In further accordance with the present invention, the platform blocks 20 and 21 are each provided with a plurality of axle receiving and retaining openings 29 which open outwardly from the base portions 22 of the blocks. In the preferred construction, each of the blocks 20, 21 includes a pair of recesses 29 which are located in the walls of the lower box-like portion 22 directly below the longitudinal slot 26 on the upper surface 23 of the block. Since the half-platform block is adapted for universal orientation, it will be understood that another pair of the recesses 29 are located in the lower portion 22 directly beneath the transverse groove 27. The large platform block 20, which generally conforms to a pair of small platforms 21 placed end to end, includes two pair of recesses 29 located on the transverse walls of the lower portion 22, respectively, located below the transverse grooves 27 which bisect the upper and lower halves of the block.

The recesses 29 are preferably generally circular in shape and have a flared entrance 30 which permits easy access thereto. Thus, it will be seen that each recess 29 and its cooperating entrance 30 form a generally lug-hole shaped axle receiving and retaining opening. The diameter of each of the recesses is chosen in order to freely journal an axle rod 31 of the type shown in FIG. 18. It will also be understood that the flared entrance 3G is slightly restricted adjacent the recess 29, at which point the width of the entrance is slightly less than the diameter of the axle 31. Therefore, due to the resiliency of the preferred polyethylene blocks 20, 21, the axle 31 may be virtually snapped through the entrance 3t and into the recess 29 where it is freely journalled, yet securely retained due to the restricted opening. The wheels 32, shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 may be attached to the axle rods 31 to complete the wheel and axle assemblies for the toy 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Another basic element of the present construction set is a small platform block 33 as shown in FIGS. 7-9. The small platform block 33, of course, has certain basic similarities to the previously described platform blocks 20, 21. It will be seen, for example, that the small block 33 also includes a hollow rectangular base portion 22 in which both transverse and axially aligned recesses 29 are located. Similarly, a plurality of internal lugs 22a are formed adjacent the lower edges of the base 22.

The small block, however, has but a single raised land portion 34 which terminates slightly inwardly from the rectangular base 22 to define the narrow peripheral shoulder 28. A plurality of external lugs 34a are integrally formed on the land 34 to provide snap coupling with. the complementary lugs 22a on another block. Moreover, in the small block 33 three aligned apertures 25 are disposed longitudinally of the block with the center apertures 25 replacing the transverse grooves 27 in the blocks 20, 21. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that in the small block 33 one pair of recesses 29 are located in longitudinal alignment with the three apertures 25 (FIG. 9), and the other pair of recesses 29 are in transverse alignment with the center apertures 25 (FIG. 8).

To permit an even greater range of shapes and objects to be constructed from the present set, there are provided tapered blocks 35 and tapered platforms 36 as shown in FIGS. l012 and 13-15, respectively. The tapered block 35 also includes a generally hollow rectangular base portion 22 and a substantially flat sloping top 37. The tapered block platform, however, has only a single recess 29 formed centrally in one wall of the base 22 (FIG. Lugs 22a are formed on the inside of the walls of the base portion.

The tapered platform 36, as the name implies, has basic similarities to both the tapered block 35 and the platform blocks 21 21. To this end, the tapered platform has a hollow rectangular base 22 which defines in one wall a single recess 29 disposed below the single transverse groove 27 bisecting two raised land portions 24 (FIG. 14). Each raised land portion 24 is set in inwardly from the base 22 so as to define a peripheral shoulder 21'; and each land defines a centrally located aperture 25. Preferably, external lugs 24a are formed on the outwardly facing walls of the lands 24. It will, however, be noted that the tapered platform is a reverse slope from that of the tapered block (see FIGS. 12 and In both the tapered block 35 and the tapered platform 36, the one wall which defines the recess 29 is dimensionally the same as the similar wall in the lower portion 22 of all of the platform blocks 29, 21 and 33 (see FIGS. 6 and 8). The tapered block, however, only has internal lugs 22a along the one wall of the base portion 22 which has the greatest depth.

All of the previously mentioned construction blocks and platforms can be joined or assembled in end-toend relation (and side-to-side in the case of platforms 20, 21 and 33) as well as the stacked type mounting mentioned above. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the platforms and blocks 2%, 21, 33, 35 and 36 are assembled and securely held in end-to-end relationship by means of connectors 40 which are inserted into the aligned and cooperating recesses 29 of the adjacent blocks. The connectors 40 are preferably generally H-shaped with a substantially cylindrical body 41 which is dimensioned to snap into the recesses 29 and which interconnects a pair of opposed, substantially channel shaped end pieces 42 (FIGS. 21 and 22).

Desirably, the connectors are also formed of the same resilient polyethylene material which is used in the other construction elements. Thus, the outwardly extending flanges of the channelled ends 42 can be pinched together slightly so that the connector can be virtually snapped into a pair of mating recesses 29. When the channel ends 42 are released, the connector 45] springs back to its original H-shaped configuration firmly sandwiching the walls of the adjacent blocks. To further enhance this sandwiching action, one of the channelled ends 42 is provided with a pair of internally directed ribs 43a. The ribs 43a serve to firmly engage the wall of one of the base portions 22 and hold the two blocks in side-by-side relationship.

Alternatively, the blocks and platforms may be loosely coupled together by means of hitch connectors 44 (see FIGS 2 and 20). The hitch connectors 44 may also be formed of the preferred polyethylene material and are generally shaped like a dumbbell with a cylindrical body portion 45 and enlarged spherical ends 46. The spherical ends are substantially larger than the diameter of the recesses 29 which thereby prevents axial withdrawal of the hitch from the recess. It will also be understood that the hitch 44 snaps into the recesses 29 in the same manner as the axles described above. The hitch 44 thus provides for limited universal coupling between the various blocks and platforms and may be used to interconnect individual wheeled toys such as the engine 11 and tender 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

To permit the assembly of closed body structures or open bins and hoppers, the present construction set also includes body elements (see FIGS. 23 and 24). The body blocks 50 are formed with a generally rectangular, hollow box-like configuration with one open end 51. As will be apparent by reference to FIG. 1, the body blocks 50 may be mounted on the platform blocks 20, 21, 33 in either a closed upright position as on the engine 11 or in an inverted open position to form the hopper of the tender 12.

In order that the body blocks 50 may be securely mounted on the platform blocks in the closed upright position, the internal dimensions of the open end 51 of the body blocks are somewhat less than the external dimensions across two adjacent lands 24 of the platform blocks 21 21. In addition, internal lugs 51a are formed on the two side walls of the body block 59 so as to snap over the lugs 24a on the raised lands. Thus, a snap fit is also provided in mounting the open end of the body blocks over the lands 24. Furthermore, the body blocks may be mounted on the platform blocks in either a transverse or a longitudinal orientation.

For mounting the body blocks 50 in an open inverted manner, each body block includes a pair of lugs or nipples 52 which project from the closed end 53 of the block. The nipples 52, which are each centrally located across the width of the body block 50, have a diameter slightly larger than the mean diameter of the apertures 25 located in the platform blocks. The center-tocenter spacing of any two adjacent apertures 25 located in the raised lands 24. It will be apparent, therefore, that the body blocks 50 may be mounted in an open inverted manner on the platform blocks simply by inserting the nipples 52 into the apertures 25 of the platform blocks where they are held in firm engagement by the internal lips 25a of the slightly smaller apertures 25.

To further facilitate the construction possibilities of the present set, the body blocks 50 each define a single centrally disposed aperture 55 defined by inturned lips 56 similar to the inturned lips 25a in the platform blocks. The aperture 55 is similarly dimensioned with a long axis 1 and a short axis s, the latter being defined by a pair of flats 55b. Thus, the apertures 55, as well as the apertures 25, are adapted to snugly receive a short connector pin 57 shown in FIG. 19, even though the pin 57 is not perfectly round. The short pin 57 can in turn, be used to attach additional components to the body blocks 5% as hereinafter described. Moreover, the central aperture 55 in the body blocks permits the insertion of longer pins or axle rods 31 in order to build special tops such as a derrick, cranes and the like.

To add distinctiveness and additional reality to the toys which may be constructed from the present set, several additional specialized elements are included with each set. These specialized elements include a hollow cab member 60, shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, a reversible chimney 61 shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 and a head mem ber 62 shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. These elements are also each shown assembled with other elements of the set in the illustrative toy 10 shown in FIG. 1. It will also be understood that the cab member has one open end 63 dimensioned so as to snugly fit over a square defined by four of the raised lands 24 on the platform blocks. Lugs 63a are also provided to afford a snap fit over the lugs 24a on the raised lands. The chimney 61 has a pair of opposed and axially aligned dowel receiving recesses 64 which enables the chimney to be reversibly mounted either upon the nipples 52 or the connecting pins 57. The head piece 62 is formed with a single dowel receiving recess 64 for the same purpose.

It will be apparent from the above description that the various elements of the present construction set may be assembled to form a wide variety of mechanical toys and other objects which differ significantly in form and appeal from the engine 11 and tender 12 of the illustrative toy 10. Among the other possibilities which may be constructed with the present construction set are: cars and trucks of various sizes and shapes; boats, barges and tugs; and a wide range of additional railroad cars. It will so be appreciated that the present set has great play value for both children and adults, and the construction of various mechanical toys and other objects serves to stimulate the imagination and creative ability of all who have an opportunity to build with it.

Finally, the versatility and durability of the individual elements of the construction set should not be overlooked. All of the major construction elements are preferably formed of a durable and resilient polyethylene plastic material which is springy enough to allow the parts to securely interfit with one another and yet to permit quick and easy disassembly of the components so that they may be used over and over again in the construction of other toys. In addition, the elements readily withstand the abuse that such sets can be normally expected to experience.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a toy construction set having a plurality of elements including elongated axle rods and wheels attachable thereto: a platform block having a hollow base portion defining a plurality of pairs of axle receiving recesses therein and a plurality of individually raised lands on the top portion thereof, said lands located to define a centrally disposed longitudinal groove and at least one transverse groove bisecting said platform, an external lug formed on each of the outwardly facing walls of said raised lands, said longitudinal groove located in parallel alignment with one pair of said axle receiving recesses and at least one of said transverse grooves located in parallel alignment with another pan of said axle receiving recesses, a hollow box-like body block having one open end formed to snugly fit over any two adjacent of said raised lands, and a plurality of internal lugs formed on the inner surface of said open end for snappingly engaging said external lugs when said open end of said body block is fitted over said raised lands, said body block also having a closed end carrying a pair of spaced nipples thereon, said nipples being dimensioned to snugly fit into any adjacent pair of said apertures in said raised lands for reversibly mounting said body block securely on said platform with the closed portion of said body block adjacent the surface of a pair of said raised lands.

2. In a toy construction set: a plurality of platform blocks each having a hollow base portion and first connecting means including a plurality of raised lands on the top thereof, each of said land having second connecting means including a centrally located aperture therein, and said apertures each having a substantially elliptical shape defined by an inturned lip formed integrally with said land so as to form a pair of substantially flat portions generally parallel to the longer axis of said apertures.

3. A toy construction set as defined in claim 2, including a hollow box-like body block having one open end formed to snugly fit over any two adjacent of said raised lands on said platform blocks.

4. In a toy construction set having a plurality of elements including elongated axle rods and wheels attachable thereto: a platform block having a hollow base portion defining a plurality of pairs of axle receiving recesses therein and a plurality of individually raised lands on the top portion thereof, said lands located so as to define a centrally disposed longitudinal groove and at least one transverse groove bisecting said platform, said longitudinal groove located in parallel alignment with one pair of said axle receiving recesses and at least one of said transverse grooves located in parallel alignment with another pair of said axle receiving recesses, each of said raise-d lands defining a centrally located aperture, and a hollow box-like body block having one opened end dimensioned to snugly fit over any two adjacent of said raised lands, said body block also having a closed end carrying a pair of spaced nipples thereon, said nipples being dimensioned to snugly fit into any adjacent pair of said apertures in said raised lands for reversibly mounting said body block securely on said platform with the closed portion of said body block adjacent the surface of a pair of said raised lands.

5. In a toy construction set: a platform block having a hollow base portion and a plurality of individually raised lands on the top thereof defining a longitudinal groove and at least one transverse groove, each of said lands having a centrally located aperture therein, and a body block having a closed end with a pair of spaced nipples thereon dimensioned for snug-fitting engagement in an adjacent pair of said apertures, said body block also having one open end dimensioned for snug-fitting relation over an adjacent pair of said lands.

6. In a toy construction set: a platform block having a hollow base portion and a plurality of individually raised lands on the top thereof defining a longitudinal groove and at least one transverse groove, each of said lands having a centrally located aperture therein, said aperture having a substantially elliptical shape defined by an inturned lip formed integrally with said land, and a body block having a closed end with a pair of spaced nipples thereon dimensioned for snug-fitting engagement in an adjacent pair of said apertures, said body block also having one open end dimensioned for snug fitting relation over an adjacent pair of said lands.

7. In a toy construction set having a plurality of elements including connector pins, a platform block having a hollow base portion and a plurality of individually raised lands on the top thereof defining a longitudinal groove and at least one transverse groove, each of said lands having a centrally located aperture therein, and a body block having a plurality of spaced nipples thereon dimensioned for snug-fitting engagement in said apertures, said body block having one open end dimensioned for fitting relation over an adjacent pair of said lands, said dimension creating a snug fit in at least one direction, said body block also having an aperture therein dimensioned for receiving one of said connector pins in snug-fitting relation to provide attachment for one of said elements.

8. In a toy construction set: a plurality of platform blocks formed of resilient material and each having a hollow, rectangular base portion with depending walls and an integral top portion defining at least one raised land, each said raised land located inwardly on said top portion from said rectangular base portion so as to define a narrow peripheral horizontally disposed shoulder surrounding said land, connecting means including an external lug formed on each of the outwardly facing sidewalls of each of said raised lands and a plurality of cooperating internal lugs formed on the inner faces of said depending walls of said base portion, said internal lugs located in vertically spaced alignment with said external lugs on said lands, said external and internal lugs of said connecting means being dimensioned to snap over one another and said shoulder serving as an abutment against which said base portion of an upper one of said blocks may rest when any two of said blocks are assembled in stacked relationship.

9. A toy construction set as defined in claim 8 wherein said raised lands are generally square and are located on said top portion so as to define a centrally disposed longitudinal groove and at least one transverse groove bisecting the top portion of said platform, said grooves defining a portion of said shoulder and being adapted to serve as an abutment against which said depending walls of the base portion of another of said blocks may rest when said blocks are stacked in staggered relationship.

10. A toy construction set as defined in claim 9 including at least one elongated, cylindrical axle rod and a pair of wheels attachable thereto, said depending walls of the base portion defining one pair of aligned recesses defining an axis parallel to said longitudinal groove and at least one other pair of aligned recesses defining an axis parallel to said transverse groove, said recesses being generally keyhole-shaped and dimensioned for freely whereby wheeled toys may be assembled.

1 0 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 8/ 1960 Australia.

8/1959 France.

7/ 1935 Germany. 12/ 1961 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKI-IAM, Primary Examiner.

journaling yet securely retaining said axle rods therein 20 F. B. SHAY, Examiner. 

1. IN A TOY CONSTRUCTION SET HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELEMENTS INCLUDING ELONGATED AXLE RODS AND WHEELS ATTACHABLE THERETO: A PLATFORM BLOCK HAVING A HOLLOW BASE PORTION DEFINING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF AXLE RECEIVING RECESSES THEEIN AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUALLY RAISED LANDS ON THE TOP PORTION THEREOF, SAID LANDS LOCATED TO DEFINE A CENTRALLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINAL GROOVE AND AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSE GROOVE BISECTING SAID PLATFORM, AN EXTERNAL LUG FORMED ON EACH OF THE OUTWARDLY FACING WALLS OF SAID RAISED LANDS, SAID LONGITUDINAL GROOVE LOCATED IN PARALLEL ALIGNMENT WITH ONE PAIR OF SAID AXLE RECEIVING RECESSES AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TRANSVERSE GROOVES LOCATED IN PARALLEL ALIGNMENT WITH ANOTHER PAN OF SAID AXLE RECEIVING RECESSES, A HOLLOW BOX-LIKE BODY BLOCK HAVING ONE OPEN END FORMED TO SNUGLY FIT OVER ANY TWO ADJACENT OF SAID RAISED LANDS, AND A PLURALITY OF INTERNAL LUGS FORMED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID OPEN END FOR SNAPPINGLY ENGAGING 